Dunlop name reunites with Norton for Classic TT

The historic partnership of Norton and Dunlop will reunite for the 2015 Classic TT, with William Dunlop signing to ride a rotary Norton machine for the National Motorcycle Museum at the event. The deal was announced on the Sports and Performance stage at the Carole Nash MCN London Motorcycle Show.

The team will be run by Norton engineering legend Brian Crighton, the man behind the famous 588 machine raced to victory at the North West 200 and Ulster Grand Prix by William’s father Robert.

The bike WIlliam will race will not be identical to his father’s, however, instead being a sister to the machine that went to TT victory in 1992 in the hands of Steve Hislop. The Scotsman raced to the win in the Senior TT against Carl Fogarty, in a race widely acknowledged as being the best TT race of all time.

Speaking exclusively to MCN at the London Show, Dunlop said: “I don’t know what to expect, because I spent so many years hearing about the bike from my dad! It sounds like an bit of an animal, but that’s why my dad loved riding it and I’m looking forward to the challenge!”